Many of us like to indulge in comfort foods when we feel stressed. But the relationship between stress and weight gain includes many other factors beyond consuming a few extra calories. “Researchers have long known that rises in the stress hormone cortisol lead to weight gain. Every time you’re stressed, your adrenal glands release adrenalineContinue reading “In the News: Stress & Weight”
Tag Archives: stress
Climbing Out of a Slump or Hole
How to you get out of a slump – where you just don’t want to do anything? Looking at the photo above, we can see both a ladder and a helping hand – two ways out of the hole. To quote Dr. Seuss, “When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.Un-slumping yourselfContinue reading “Climbing Out of a Slump or Hole”
Self-Care & Exercise: Deep Breathing
Deep breathing exercises have been associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression in numerous studies (1). By reducing cortisol levels, deep breathing exercises can normalize our hormone levels, leading to fewer cravings and reduced appetite. Deep breathing can also improve focus which is a valuable skill for weight maintenance (2). Diaphragmatic breathing (explained below) canContinue reading “Self-Care & Exercise: Deep Breathing”
Exercise: The Benefits of Yoga
Yoga can have many health benefits – both physical and psychological. Let’s take a look at some studies to learn if this exercise is right for you. Yoga is based upon an ancient practice first recorded in India about 5,000 years ago (1). Modern yoga focuses on strength, flexibility, agility, and breathing. There are manyContinue reading “Exercise: The Benefits of Yoga”
Fat Shaming, Weight Stigma & Bias
This can be a painful topic, and it was hard to even know where to start. But it’s important to address the unfair treatment that many of us have experienced. I chose this image of a strong person breaking through a barrier of bricks to represent today’s topic. It symbolizes what I’d like for usContinue reading “Fat Shaming, Weight Stigma & Bias”
Self Care: Mindfulness
Have you been seeing the term mindfulness more often lately? It’s not always associated with dieting, but it is often discussed in terms of health benefits. As it turns out, it can play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. Sometimes mindfulness is coupled directly with food, as in mindful eating. In that case, it’sContinue reading “Self Care: Mindfulness”
Self-Care: Volunteering
By helping others, you can truly help yourself. Volunteering is an unexpected way to care for yourself. It’s definitely another tool we can use to help maintain our healthy weight. And it’s one with a far reaching positive impact. Here are some of the benefits of volunteering: How might you find the right volunteer projectContinue reading “Self-Care: Volunteering”
Self-Care: Clothing, Part 2
Last time, we looked at the first two items in the list below. Today we will consider the final three. Alterations I’m fortunate in being able to sew and I also have a nice sewing machine with ample supplies. I’ve been able to alter many of my clothes as I lost weight. But if somethingContinue reading “Self-Care: Clothing, Part 2”
Self-Care: Music
Let’s start off with a self-care practice that’s near to my heart, music. I’ve been learning the harp for four years and have found that playing is a wonderful way to de-stress. It is also one of the things I routinely do when I think I’m hungry, but know that it’s definitely not time toContinue reading “Self-Care: Music”
Self-Care: What and Why?
You’ve likely heard of self-care, a phrase that seems to mean just about anything that improves your life. But what is it really and why does it matter in terms of weight maintenance? Self-care is a sort of nebulous term, as it includes so many possible activities. These are actions you undertake to improve yourContinue reading “Self-Care: What and Why?”
Maintain Weight Loss 